We miss the present moment when we long for the past or strive too hard for the future.

By Dr. DAN ERICKSON

Why is it so difficult to find a person who is well balanced?

I’m know I’m not one of them.

We seem to gravitate toward extremes.

When it comes to the way we view the present, most people fall into one of two camps. The first looks back with fondness on the “good old days.” This is more than enjoying fond memories. It’s a belief that, if we could only go back, things would be better than they are now.

The other group is always looking ahead. This is more than responsible planning. It’s a tomorrow-driven obsession that causes us to miss the present.

The problem with both extremes is that today – actually this very moment – is all that God has given us. No matter how we might wish it, we can’t fast forward to tomorrow. It’s also clear that we can’t go back.

This moment is your life. As a noted author has said, “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.”

As I get older, I realize that the only way to slow time down is to cherish each and every moment. James called time a vapor. I don’t think I have time to seize the day – I need to seize the moment, realizing that every second can echo in eternity.

If I could live life over again, I would be more thoughtful, feel more intensely, speak more tenderly and live more intentionally. But I can’t start over. So I will begin today.

“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. … Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Psalm 95:7-8

Let’s live with purpose in the here and now and imagine the possibilities.